Netanyahu threatens forceful attack against Yemen's Houthis

Jerusalem: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has pledged to take "forceful action" against the Houthi group in Yemen following a missile attack launched by the group toward the Tel Aviv area.

In a video statement released on Sunday, Netanyahu emphasized that, just as Israel had acted with force against other Iranian-backed groups, it would do the same against the Houthis. He also noted that Israel was not acting alone in this effort, as the United States and other nations share the view that the Houthis pose a threat to both international shipping and the global order.

Netanyahu further assured that Israel would respond with "strength, determination, and ingenuity," asserting that, even if it takes time, the outcome would be similar to that of other terrorist groups.

The comments followed a Houthi-launched ballistic missile that exploded in a playground in south Tel Aviv on Saturday. The attack injured 16 people and caused significant damage after attempts to intercept the missile failed, as reported by Xinhua news agency.

The missile struck a playground and a building in Tel Aviv late Friday night into Saturday, injuring several individuals and causing extensive damage to the structure, according to Israel's Magen David Adom rescue service.

This attack came after Israeli airstrikes on Thursday targeting Yemen's capital, Sanaa, and the ports of Hodeidah, As-Salif, and Ras Issa. The Israeli military stated that these airstrikes were aimed at Houthi infrastructure, and at least nine people were reported killed.

This was the second time in two days that a Houthi missile triggered sirens across Israel’s center. A previous warhead, launched on Thursday, was partially intercepted outside Israeli airspace but crashed into an empty school building in Ramat Gan, causing significant damage but no injuries.

With IANS inputs